We are just over two months until the 2026 NFL season begins. From here until the beginning of September, we are all going to be tasked with projecting and making some educated guesses for what the next season will bring. That includes who the next wave of NFL stars will be. 

Over on the Best Pod Available YouTube channel, Joe DeLeone and I made our selections for the younger NFC players who could fight for star status in 2026. To make it even more fun, we each selected one player per position. My list consisted of talented players with less than three years of NFL experience. 

There was plenty of talent to choose from. 

QB Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints)

While it was a smaller sample size as a rookie, Shough showed a ton of upside and promise. In nine starts, he threw for 2,256 yards, 10 touchdowns, a 68 percent completion percentage, and three more scores on the ground. Over a 17-game sample size with that pace, Shough would have thrown for 4,262 yards, 25 total touchdowns, and nine interceptions. 

The 6-5, 220-pound signal caller has some really impressive tools as a pocket passer. With the confidence he instilled in the Saints’ coaching staff, the team opted to invest heavily in the supporting cast around him. They drafted former Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in the top ten of the 2026 NFL Draft, signed former Jackson Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, former Buffalo Bills offensive guard David Edwards, and drafted tight end Oscar Delp (Georgia), wide receiver Bryce Lance (North Dakota State), and Barion Brown (LSU). 

In the blink of an eye, Shough has a lot of talent around him. I expect him to take a huge jump during his second season because of it. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him finish as a top-14 quarterback in the NFL.

DT Tyleik Williams (Detroit Lions)

Williams had an okay rookie season with Detroit, but it wasn’t anything special, collecting just 18 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. The former Ohio State standout is a nose tackle, so his impact can’t always be effectively summed up by raw statistics. There is an expectation, however, that the 6-3, 328-pound behemoth can take a substantial step during the 2026 season. 

With Williams’ play style, his biggest impact is being able to keep players clean around him. If Jack Campbell, Aidan Hutchinson, Derrick Moore, and Alim McNeil are making a ton of plays next season, it’ll probably be because Williams is doing a lot of the dirty work. This defense will need him to take a big step forward. 

LB Arvell Reese (New York Giants)

Picking a top-five player from the 2026 NFL Draft class does feel like cheating a bit, but I’m infatuated with the impact that Reese can have for the Giants’ defense. With defensive ends Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux already on the team, Reese has the chance to play inside linebacker in New York. That provides him upside on the second level, as a blitzer, and as a sub-package rusher at times. 

If used correctly, Reese has stat potential at 6-4 and 240 pounds. Getting him comfortable at his more natural linebacker position is wise early. Versatility is the name of his game, and he has a chance to become a difference maker as a rookie. 

S Kamren Kinchens (Los Angeles Rams)

Since being drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Kinchens has been an extremely underrated safety on the back end of the Los Angeles Rams. Over the last two seasons, the former Miami Hurricane standout has managed to collect 141 total tackles, six interceptions, and 12 pass breakups. His range on the back end is extremely valuable. 

The Rams upgraded the secondary this offseason, trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson. Los Angeles also added All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett to their pass rush. A player like Kinchens could end up being a huge beneficiary of more talent around him. There should be opportunities to make plays in the passing game as Garrett applies a ton of pressure, and the tandem of McDuffie-Watson makes things very difficult for opposing wide receivers.